To be a Hero pt 1

Suyin stood hesitantly at the threshold, her senses on high alert.

The voice calling out to her was unfamiliar, distinct from the previous seeker who had pursued her through the shadows. With a cautious hand, she pushed the door ajar, revealing a figure looming on the other side. Towering above her, a young man greeted her with a gentle smile that seemed to soften the edges of the dimly lit alleyway. "I apologize for intruding, but I've been following you ever since you mentioned your interest in medicine earlier," he spoke earnestly, his words carrying a sincerity that seemed to align with his outward appearance.

Indeed, men of this era possessed a striking beauty, and this stranger was no exception.

Clad in a light blue robe adorned with subtle yet intricate patterns, he exuded an air of understated elegance. His eyes sparkled with a glimmer of hope, and his frame, neither imposingly large nor frail, suggested an approachability that contrasted with the enigmatic Yi Tienzheng. Suyin regarded the man with a mixture of skepticism and curiosity, her lips curling into a subtle sneer as she weighed the authenticity of his claims. "Look, I come from a family of medical experts," he continued, his tone tinged with a hint of wonder. "I couldn't help but be intrigued by your passion for medicine... especially coming from a woman." In a society where women dared not venture into the realm of medicine for fear of scorn and ridicule, Suyin's audacious pursuit of knowledge stood as a testament to her unwavering determination. The stranger couldn't help but marvel at her resilience, a rare quality amidst a sea of conformity. Despite her reservations, Suyin's facade softened slightly as she admitted, "Thank you. I truly do wish to learn."

Drawing closer to the man, she feigned a sense of acquiescence before swiftly evading his grasp, darting off into the labyrinthine alleyways that led back to the bustling main road.

It was a calculated escape.

The man watched as Suyin swiftly vanished into the labyrinth of alleyways, her figure disappearing amidst the shadows with an agility that belied her graceful demeanor.

A fleeting expression of surprise flitted across his features before he shook his head, a wry smile playing at the corners of his lips. It was not entirely unexpected that she would choose flight over trust; after all, caution was a virtue in these uncertain times. "Perhaps another encounter lies in store for us," he mused aloud, his voice carrying a note of rueful acceptance.

With a resigned shrug, he turned on his heel, striding purposefully back toward the awaiting carriage. As he ascended into its plush interior, the doors closing behind him with a muted thud, he cast one last lingering glance over his shoulder, the faint echo of his words lingering in the air like a whispered promise. "Maybe next time, we'll meet again."

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As she strolled along the bustling main road earlier, Suyin couldn't help but overhear snippets of conversation drifting through the evening air.

The man named Liwei, his voice carrying the unmistakable cadence of arrogance, regaled his companions with tales of wealth and privilege, boasting of his supposed affluence courtesy of a wealthy patron hailing from the Long territory. A chill ran down Suyin's spine as she listened to their callous chatter, the mention of a wealthy individual's unsettling obsession with young women painting a grim picture in her mind. Her heart sank at the thought of innocent girls falling prey to the machinations of such depravity, their fates hanging precariously in the balance.

With a steely resolve, Suyin concocted a plan to infiltrate the group's base of operations, determined to thwart their nefarious schemes and liberate those who had been ensnared by their clutches. Now, as dusk descended upon the land, Suyin shadowed the group of men with silent determination, her every step measured and purposeful as she trailed behind them, careful to maintain a safe distance.

The path they trod led them deeper into the labyrinthine network of streets, winding its way through the dimly lit alleyways until they arrived at a foreboding establishment nestled in the heart of the district. Her breath caught in her throat as she beheld the weathered facade of the inn, its peeling paint and flickering lanterns casting eerie shadows across the threshold.

"XINYI HOST INN"

Yellowed letters adorned the signboard above, their faded script spelling out the name of the establishment in stark contrast to the darkness that enveloped its surroundings. "This must be the place," Suyin murmured to herself, her voice barely above a whisper as she surveyed the scene before her.

With the location of the wolves' den firmly etched in her mind, Suyin's thoughts raced with a singular purpose: devising a daring strategy to rescue the innocent women ensnared within its confines.

As she hastened back to the inn where Areum awaited, her mind buzzed with ideas, each one more audacious than the last. Arriving at their makeshift sanctuary, Suyin wasted no time in seeking out Areum.

Together, they huddled in the dimly lit confines of their shared quarters, poring over maps and schematics in search of the perfect plan of attack. With a mixture of determination and trepidation, Suyin laid out her vision, a risky yet brilliant scheme born from equal parts desperation and ingenuity.

It was a plan wrought with peril, fraught with uncertainty, but one that held the promise of liberation for those who had fallen victim to the wolves' machinations. Areum listened intently, her eyes alight with a fierce resolve that mirrored Suyin's own. Together, they refined their strategy, ironing out the finer details with meticulous care and precision. Every aspect was scrutinized, every contingency accounted for, until finally, they emerged with a plan that was as daring as it was foolhardy.

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The previous man who spoke to Suyin earlier shook his head ruefully, lamenting the missed opportunity to share his prized collection of medical books with her, a topic that he had been eager to discuss.

With a sigh, he resigned himself to the solitude of his thoughts, the memory of their brief encounter lingering like a wistful echo in the recesses of his mind.

As he stepped through the entrance of his own home, his servant greeted him with a deep bow, a respectful acknowledgment of his presence.

"Young master, the Prince of Qin has arrived. He awaits you in your courtyard," the servant informed, his voice carrying the weight of deference.

With a nod, he acknowledged the message and hastened towards his courtyard, the anticipation of the impending meeting palpable in the air. Seated upon a weathered stone chair, Qin Fuhua reclined in the tranquility of the man's pavilion, a solitary figure amidst the serene surroundings.

The courtyard lay still, devoid of any other presence, as if the very air held its breath in reverence for the distinguished visitor. As the male quickly made his entrance, Fuhua inclined his head in a gesture of respect.

"Welcome, your Highness," he greeted with measured courtesy, his voice carrying a tone of dignified composure.

Yet, even as he extended his welcome, Fuhua's poised demeanor conveyed a subtle assurance that the man's presence alone was an honor enough.

Qin Fuhua's fingers idly traced the rim of his teacup, the delicate porcelain spinning in a hypnotic rhythm as he contemplated the swirling liquid within. "Cheng Wansun, the son of the royal doctor in our nation," he remarked, his voice carrying the weight of acknowledgment for the esteemed lineage of the man before him. "I apologize for any delay, your Highness. How may I be of service to one of such exalted stature?" Wansun inquired, his words laced with a blend of deference and uncertainty, mindful of the Prince's request yet wary of his own limitations. "It is a matter of my injury, Wansun," Qin Fuhua replied, his voice betraying a hint of vulnerability beneath its regal exterior.

With a graceful gesture, he loosened the folds of his robe, revealing the silken fabric wrapped snugly around his shoulders. With practiced hands, Wansun untied the knot with a mixture of reverence and precision, his movements a testament to years of training and expertise. As he examined the Prince's shoulders, his eyes noted the absence of fresh blood, a silent confirmation of the healing process already underway.

"Yes, your Highness," Wansun replied with a promptness that mirrored his deference, his fingers deftly working to release the knot securing the fabric.

As he unraveled the silk, his gaze shifted to the Prince's shoulders, his trained eyes assessing the condition of the wound. With a furrow of his brow, he focused on the fabric, now stained with dried blood and scattered dead leaves, a testament to the severity of the injury. "Your Highness," Wansun began, his tone carrying a note of admiration mixed with professional intrigue, "the individual who tended to your wounds displayed remarkable skill. It is evident that they applied pressure to stop the bleeding and utilized these herbs to promote healing and prevent scarring."

His eyes lifted to meet Qin Fuhua's, his expression reflecting his astonishment at the level of expertise demonstrated in the treatment. Qin Fuhua nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze lingering on the remnants of tea in his cup as he absorbed Wansun's observations.

"It would appear so," he affirmed, his voice betraying a hint of contemplation as he sipped the last remnants of his tea. "You could have easily tended to the wound yourself with the medical powder," Wansun ventured, his tone marked by a shrewd understanding. "Yet, you chose to allow it to heal naturally, to observe its progress." Qin Fuhua's silent nod confirmed the accuracy of Wansun's deduction.

Indeed, the Prince's visit was not solely for medical assessment but rather to satisfy a deeper inquiry.

Though unorthodox for him to seek Wansun's expertise instead of his father's, he preferred to avoid unnecessary attention within the palace walls. Despite his initial skepticism, Qin Fuhua found himself begrudgingly impressed by Suyin's ingenuity. Not only had she demonstrated a keen understanding of wound care, but her foresight in utilizing specific herbs had ensured a swift and seamless recovery, sparing him the indignity of a lasting scar.

"Your Highness, if I may inquire, who was it that aided you in treating this wound?"

Wansun's curiosity tinged his voice as he gestured towards the fabric now laid bare upon the table. The meticulous wrapping, easily unraveling to reveal the injury beneath, spoke volumes of the skill and care with which it had been applied. "Just someone I happened to encounter, though they proved to be quite the inconvenience," Qin Fuhua responded, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm as he dismissed the topic, seemingly unfazed by Wansun's awe at Suyin's proficiency.

With a graceful inclination of his head, he signaled his departure, bidding Wansun farewell as he made his exit from the courtyard. Left alone amidst the quietude of his surroundings, Wansun couldn't shake the sense of wonder that lingered in the wake of the Prince's revelation.

The enigmatic figure who had come to the aid of Qin Fuhua had demonstrated a level of medical expertise that surpassed all expectations.

Intrigued by the mystery surrounding the medic's identity, Wansun resolved that, should the opportunity arise, he would seek further insight from the Prince himself, eager to unravel the mystery of the Savior's whereabouts.

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"Really?!" Areum's frustration reverberated through the room as her hands collided with the table's surface, a sharp clap cutting through the air like a sudden thunderclap, urging Suyin to temper her volume. "Shh." Suyin's lips curled into a mischievous smirk, her tone laced with a hint of satisfaction.

"It played out exactly as I anticipated. I caught wind of a conversation, snippets of gossip weaving through the air like whispers on the wind, painting a picture of an old, lecherous figure from our past haunting the memories of our hometown."

With deft fingers, she draped a pristine white wrap over her form, concealing the swell of her abdomen from prying eyes. A delicate ribbon, plain and unassuming, coiled around her fingers as she gathered her hair, securing it in a hasty yet elegant knot. "Whether it's the specter of that old man or another soul entirely, those girls need our help. I refuse to stand idly by while men continue to exploit our vulnerability as women," Suyin declared, her gaze fixed on the twilight beyond the windowpane.

Outside, the city stirred with the ebbing of daylight, the hum of activity gradually dwindling as dusk descended. It was the opportune moment for Suyin to delve into the clandestine workings of the brothel inn, cloaked in the veil of evening's embrace. "Are you certain you can manage alone?" Areum's concern etched lines of worry across her features, her eyes tracing Suyin's movements with fretful intensity.

With practiced ease, Suyin donned the outermost layer of her attire, slipping into the guise of a young man with the ease of slipping into a second skin.

The azure silk robe, borrowed from her father's wardrobe, enveloped her frame with a luxurious drape, its opulent folds imbued with a sense of prosperity and fortune.

A grin tugged at Suyin's lips as she caught sight of Areum's awe-struck expression, a silent testament to the success of her disguise. "You'll pass for a man without a doubt," Areum affirmed, her voice infused with a newfound confidence in Suyin's audacious plan. With a decisive nod, Suyin affirmed her readiness, her resolve unwavering as she prepared to venture forth into the unknown. "I'll return, I promise," she vowed, the assurance of her words cutting through the gathering dusk like a beacon of hope in the encroaching shadows.